Johnny Carson Dies From Common Lung Disease
Johnny Carson Dies From Common Lung Disease
Emphysema Is Irreversible, Smoking Main Cause
Jan. 24, 2005 -- Johnny Carson, late-night talk show host for 30 years, died from emphysema, a common lung disease.
Carson was diagnosed with emphysema in 2002.
What is emphysema, can it be prevented, and how can it be treated? WebMD turned to The Cleveland Clinic and the American Lung Association for answers.
Emphysema is irreversible destruction of the walls of the air sacs located at the end of the bronchial tubes. The damaged air sacs, called alveoli, are not able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood. As a result a person develops progressive symptoms of the disease including shortness of breath, cough, and limited ability to exert him- or herself.
The lung tissue loses its elasticity and collapses when the person exhales, trapping air in the lungs. The trapped air keeps fresh air and oxygen from entering the lungs.
Cigarette smoking causes approximately 80% to 90% of deaths due to emphysema. Air pollution and occupational dusts may also contribute to emphysema, especially when the person exposed to these substances is a cigarette smoker. A genetic abnormality called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can also cause emphysema.
Cigarette smoke causes emphysema by destroying the tiny air sacs in the lungs. Damage to these air sacs leads to holes in the lung tissue. It typically takes years of smoking before emphysema symptoms develop -- but once the damage is done, it can't be reversed.
The number of people with emphysema has gone from 2.3 million in 1982 to 3.1 million in 2002. Many people with emphysema also have chronic bronchitis, another lung condition largely caused by smoking. Heart disease, also commonly caused by smoking, is also often present.
Emphysema generally occurs after the age of 45. Men tend to develop emphysema more frequently. However, it's unclear if emphysema rates in women will rise since smoking is now more common among women.
Together with other lung conditions that are largely caused by smoking, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 120,000 Americans per year.
Johnny Carson Dies From Common Lung Disease
Emphysema Is Irreversible, Smoking Main Cause
Jan. 24, 2005 -- Johnny Carson, late-night talk show host for 30 years, died from emphysema, a common lung disease.
Carson was diagnosed with emphysema in 2002.
What is emphysema, can it be prevented, and how can it be treated? WebMD turned to The Cleveland Clinic and the American Lung Association for answers.
What is emphysema?
Emphysema is irreversible destruction of the walls of the air sacs located at the end of the bronchial tubes. The damaged air sacs, called alveoli, are not able to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the blood. As a result a person develops progressive symptoms of the disease including shortness of breath, cough, and limited ability to exert him- or herself.
The lung tissue loses its elasticity and collapses when the person exhales, trapping air in the lungs. The trapped air keeps fresh air and oxygen from entering the lungs.
What causes emphysema?
Cigarette smoking causes approximately 80% to 90% of deaths due to emphysema. Air pollution and occupational dusts may also contribute to emphysema, especially when the person exposed to these substances is a cigarette smoker. A genetic abnormality called alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can also cause emphysema.
Cigarette smoke causes emphysema by destroying the tiny air sacs in the lungs. Damage to these air sacs leads to holes in the lung tissue. It typically takes years of smoking before emphysema symptoms develop -- but once the damage is done, it can't be reversed.
How many people have emphysema?
The number of people with emphysema has gone from 2.3 million in 1982 to 3.1 million in 2002. Many people with emphysema also have chronic bronchitis, another lung condition largely caused by smoking. Heart disease, also commonly caused by smoking, is also often present.
Emphysema generally occurs after the age of 45. Men tend to develop emphysema more frequently. However, it's unclear if emphysema rates in women will rise since smoking is now more common among women.
Together with other lung conditions that are largely caused by smoking, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming the lives of more than 120,000 Americans per year.
Source...